" Steady girl," Maggie whispered, peering down from the bluff, leather reins held taut. The thrum of spectators on the field below rose on the cool morning breeze, and she leaned forward to stroke the thoroughbred's neck. "Wait," she gently coaxed, anticipation sparking the air. "It's coming..." But even as she said it, her own pulse edged up a notch.

Bourbon Belle pawed the dirt, and Maggie sensed the mare's restraint growing thinner by the ___

The gunshot sounded. The horses on the racetrack below bolted from their marks, as did Bourbon Belle, and exhilaration fired through Maggie's veins. Belle surged to life and Maggie gave the horse her head, allowing the mare to surrender to every instinct the animal's sleek-muscled body commanded. To run..."

~*~

and a Teaser ?

"The breeze on the back of his neck felt like a whisper from eternity, and it slwly fingered its way down his spine. Hoping he was doing the right thing, Cullen swiftly dismounted, took the porch steps in twos, and offered his hand again. "My answer is aye, Mr. Linden. I'll marry your daughter.

If she's willin'."

~*~

Synopsis

"A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion. But the one man who can help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing for good.An Irish-born son far from home, Cullen McGrath left a once prosperous life in England because of a horse racing scandal that nearly ruined him. He's come to Nashville for a fresh start, hoping to buy land and start a farm, all while determined to stay as far away from thoroughbred racing as possible. But starting over proves harder than he'd wagered, especially when Maggie Linden's father makes him an offer he shouldn't accept yet cannot possibly refuse.

Maggie is certain that her mare, Bourbon Belle, can take the top purse in the annual Drayton Stakes at Nashville's racetrack the richest race run in America. Maggie only needs the chance to prove it. To give her that chance, and to save Linden Downs from being sold to the highest bidder, Maggie's father aging, yet wily as ever makes a barter. His agreement includes one tiny, troublesome detail Maggie must marry a man she's never met. A man she never would have chosen for herself. Cullen and Maggie need each other in order to achieve their dreams. But their stubborn, wounded hearts and the escalating violence from a "secret society" responsible for lynchings and midnight raids may prove too much for even two determined souls."

I put this story down for a very late bedtime then continued straight through the next morning.

Such a good read!

Tamera's research is thorough, offering unique insights into the world of thoroughbred racing during the nineteenth century. An era not particularly comfortable to today's sensibilities, racial prejudices exacerbated by abuse and violence are not overlooked neither played down. Nashville founding gentry disdain northern carpetbaggers, Irish foreigners along with coloured freedmen alike.

Ms Alexander paints the background clearly.

Sons and fathers lost to war and the ensuing dire situations of landowners losing longheld farmland

drive decisions previously unconsidered.

Personable characters become real in the reading as do villains - all too clear. Lifelong relationships of friendship and love bear weight to the breaking point. Pacing is steady. Tension well played.

*

I have nothing but praise for this exceptional story and masterful storyteller.

The romance is developed so beautifully, I missed spending time with Cullen and Maggie once I'd closed the cover on the final pages.

Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books, including A Lasting Impression, A Beauty So Rare, To Whisper Her Name, and From a Distance. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide, as well as multiple industry awards.

These awards include two Christy Awards for Excellence in Christian fiction, two RITA awards for Best Inspirational Romance, three Gayle Wilson Awards of Excellence, two Bookseller’s Best Awards, and being listed among Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction, among others. Includes a lovely feature on Tamera in Southern Lady September issue.

After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville where they enjoy life with their two adult children who live nearby.

*

TO WIN HER FAVORis the second standalone novel in the Belle Meade Plantation series published by Zondervan/Harper Collins, set in Nashville, TN, and based on the real history of the famous Belle Meade Plantation founded in 1807. At the heart of each of my books is a female and male protagonist at crucial turning points in their lives. As each story has unfolded in my writing, I've taken the couple's journey with them and hope you'll enjoy taking each of these journeys too.

With the final race in this year’s Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, taking place on June 6, we’re in a horse-racing mindset. Lucky for us, Tamera Alexander’s To Win Her Favor is available now, and she’s celebrating with a giveaway!

open Canada / US

~*~

*With appreciation to Zondervan/HarperCollins for providing an ecopy for reading and review without cost or obligation.

7 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Interesting time period and I like that she really did her research about the era and didn't leave out important aspects of the culture. I don't ride or have a horse but I do love them anyway. Hope you enjoyed this.

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